Artist: Shock Therapy
Title: Live From Hell
Genre: Rock / Electro-Punk
Release Date: 10th May 2013
Label: I am Surprised Records / Echozone
Album Review
Formed in Michigan in the early part of the Eighties, electro-punk stalwarts SHOCK THERAPY have a long, varied and colourful history under their gnarly old belts. Churning out albums at an alarming rate, things only stopped for a breather when singer John Gregory “itchy” McCormick was hauled off to prison for seven years. And as the only permanent member of the band, his release from prison and reformation of SHOCK THERAPY was short-lived. You can’t argue with death, and his untimely demise aged 44 from alcoholic poisoning was quite literally the final nail in the coffin.
So a new release several years later is quite a surprise. Live recordings, including a couple of covers of Iggy Pop and The Door’s classics, make this a must-have for completists, pretty much surplus to requirements for everyone else. The murky sound, while truly horrific at times, does add to the general sludgy, sleazy feel, and if expletives are your thing, there are plenty here to keep you smiling. It’s raw, punky, visceral, and at times, like on the ferocious ‘The Story Of My Life’, thoroughly engaging. But like many live albums, the feeling that you needed to be there really, permeates everything. Big saving grace comes in the form of ‘Hate Is a 4 Letter Word’, the song which made their name, and its inclusion here is wise. ‘Live From Hell’ is a decent enough swansong then, play it loud a couple of times and then file it away under nostalgia.
Tracklist
01. Exploration
02. The Story Of My Life
03. Lucky To Be Alive
04. Running
05. Self-Respect
06. Everyone Hates Me
07. I Can’t Let Go
08. No Fear Of Death
09. I Saw You Shine
10. Hate Is A 4 Letter Word
11. Break On Through
12. I Wanna Be Your Dog
Line-up
Itchy Gregory John Mc.Cormick (died 2008)
more info about band members: http://www.shock-web.de/index.php?sektion=1
Website
http://www.shock-web.de / https://www.facebook.com/ItchyShockTherapy
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 6
Sound: 5
Total: 5.5 / 10
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